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Is it a flare or the flu?

Three days after coming back from my Texas vacation, I started to get sick. I had mostly a bad dry cough, fever, aching joints and very painful skin, I could not touch my skin, it hurt so much.
So I thought, it's the flu, drank alot of fluids, took over the counter cough medicine and went to work, feeling like I am going to die.
Feeling a little better now, but far from feeling good.
Yesterday I went to get my blood checked, because of my high liver enzynes, today my rheumy called, telling me that my platelets a very low. That makes me think, that it might be a flare, as we all know,
a flare feels like you have the flu.
I am going to see the rheumy on monday.
What do you guys think, flu or flare?

Debbie

I may have been dealt a bad hand, but at least I'm still playing with a full deck. ( most of the time anyway).

Debbie, I have no idea which it is - maybe it was the flu, which caused a flare. In any event, you've had a whole lot going on lately, and the stress could make you more vulnerable to either the flu or a flare. Glad to hear you will see your rheumy on Monday. In the meantime, be very careful with knives, razors and any other sharp objects and don't climb any ladders with your low platelet count.

The rheumy called back again yesterday and he said that he thinks, that it is a flare, because of inflammatory markers, or something like that.
In his opinion the lupus is attacking the liver and the blood.
He is going to give me a steriod shot into my butt, that always helps, to get me through the brunt of the flare.
The newest think I have with this flare is, terrible headaches, where nothing helps.
My eyes and throat( not mouth) are very dry, my eyes burn all the time, even with eye drops.
I have to work all weekend, 12-8 today and 7am-4pm tomorrow.ugh

Debbie

I may have been dealt a bad hand, but at least I'm still playing with a full deck. ( most of the time anyway).

With me, I found that I will start to get the cold or virus and turns quickly into a flare. So, I always tell my friends, "I love you dearly, but, if are sick or if you think you might be, please see me when not sick." Most of them are really understanding about it.

That is what happened to me, I found out that I had the flu, which turned into bronchitis ( it always does). After taking the anti biotics, cough syrup and Symbecort ( for lung support), I felt a little better. But than I ran right into a bad flare, which is still going on.

Debbie

I may have been dealt a bad hand, but at least I'm still playing with a full deck. ( most of the time anyway).

Glad you are feeling better but I know it takes time. I have a question though...

Has anyone ever said that you have fibro as well as Lupus? "I could not touch my skin, it hurt so much". Many of us with fibro have that issue when it is acting up. Some of my worst flares (this one for example) are with my Lupus and my firbro decide to flare at the same time.

MariSuccess is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts.

Glad you are feeling better but I know it takes time. I have a question though...

Has anyone ever said that you have fibro as well as Lupus? "I could not touch my skin, it hurt so much". Many of us with fibro have that issue when it is acting up. Some of my worst flares (this one for example) are with my Lupus and my firbro decide to flare at the same time.

Hi tgal,

Yes, I do have Fibro as well as Lupus and RA. But when my skin hurts from the Fibro it feels different.
I have tissue problems because of the Lupus, according to my rheumy. When I say my skin hurts, I really mean that it is a deep tissue pain, it's kind of hard to explain.

Debbie

I may have been dealt a bad hand, but at least I'm still playing with a full deck. ( most of the time anyway).